Does playing with a pick kills your strings faster?

[wmhill]

I played for years with a 1.14mm tortex pick, and the last 4 years with just fingers........don't see a lick of difference. (and this is based on 75 100 gigs yearly)

 

[klejst]

I don't see a difference either and if there is it's very minimal but that is my experience. I use rounds. When I do play with a pick I tend to play fast and pick hard so it does do murder on my picks over time however.

 

[RustyAxe]

Uh ... no. The string is MUCH harder than the pick.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

I would actually think the opposite.

 

[Salicete]

Strings and picks are like gas in a car, something that you just have to get used to constantly replenishing.

With regard to relative wear over finger style, I don't think there is a significant difference, unless of course you took a pick to tape-wound strings.

 

[jd56hawk]

Any experience with a rubber pick and tapewounds?
I'm planning on putting some D'addario tapewounds on my Dean Exotica.

 

[CTC564]

I've used the rubber wedgies and Tortex .73 on my LaBalla tapes

No I'll effects but I switch back and forth between picks and fingers

 

[Solarmist]

I use picks exclusively (Dunlop nylon .60 / .73 ), and have to agree that strings will definitely sound better longer using picks, but I don't think it makes any difference in longevity.

 

[jd-ns]

I can aggressively pick close to the bridge for about 12 gigs before one of them breaks (usually the A string and they always break over the bridge saddle). I use Elixir strings and this seems to be the longevity I get out of them regardless of the type of bass I am using.

Breaking strings SUCKS. Broke one last night 2nd song in the first set...

 

[FaithNoMan]

not sure about it killing strings, but playing with a pick will kill your "swag" almost immediately!

Good. I play with a pick and hate the word "swag". That word pairs with "YOLO" perfectly.

(anytime my nephews use the word "YOLO" I tell them that's the first sign of a Justin Beiber fan)

 

[jd56hawk]

I've used the rubber wedgies and Tortex .73 on my LaBalla tapes

No I'll effects but I switch back and forth between picks and fingers

Thanks.

 

[Petethebassman]

I'm playing with a pick for a while now. I like the sound and all, but I was wondering if the strings are dead faster than with playing fingers?

Take a look at this 1960 Jazz Bass, Joe Osborn played it pretty much daily with a pick on hundreds of hit songs without changing strings for 20+ years.

 

[jd56hawk]

Cool bass…nice autographs!

 

[Thomas Kievit]

Not changing string for 20+ strings? He is deaf or something? I change mine every 2 months!

Take a look at this 1960 Jazz Bass, Joe Osborn played it pretty much daily with a pick on hundreds of hit songs without changing strings for 20+ years.

 

[Root 5]

I'm playing with a pick for a while now. I like the sound and all, but I was wondering if the strings are dead faster than with playing fingers?

I don't think playing with a pick will kill strings more quickly. Sweat & acidic skin kill strings and one's fretting hand is all over them.

 

[Petethebassman]

Not changing string for 20+ strings? He is deaf or something? I change mine every 2 months!

Show some respect: I know Joe Osborn isn't a household name - even among bass players - but his resume is amazing, just google him and wonder at how many hit songs he played on (at least 200 Top 40 hits including eighteen #1's, over fifty country #1 hits). He's a studio legend: Osborn, drummer Hal Blaine and keyboardist Larry Knechtel were one of the all-time great rhythm sections. And those strings were Labella flats. It probably isn't a bass tone you'll like or want, but for me the tone he got was close to perfection, here's a sample:

 

[petrus61]

Show some respect: I know Joe Osborn isn't a household name - even among bass players - but his resume is amazing, just google him and wonder at how many hit songs he played on (at least 200 Top 40 hits, eighteen #1's, over fifty country #1 hits). He's a studio legend: Osborn, drummer Hal Blaine and keyboardist Larry Knechtel were one of the all-time great rhythm sections. And those strings were Labella flats. It probably isn't a bass tone you'll like or want, but for me the tone he got was close to perfection, here's a sample:

I remember reading a story where Bob Glaub had his P bass stolen. He placed an ad that said something to the effect of "keep the bass! Just please return the strings!" They were a set of Labella flats that he had used for a huge part of his career.

 

[Root 5]

^^^^^^ You can keep my bass. You can have my woman. But gimme back my flatwounds!

Everyone knows you don't come between a man ( or woman) and his/her flatwounds!

 

[Root 5]

Take a look at this 1960 Jazz Bass, Joe Osborn played it pretty much daily with a pick on hundreds of hit songs without changing strings for 20+ years.

I love Karen Carpenter's signature. Such a tragedy and a lovely human being.